The Heart Between Kingdoms

by Mary Dublin

Esmae shuddered slightly as his hand brushed over her curiously. Despite knowing it belonged to him, the unseen appendage was still daunting to consider. How easy would it be for him to just pluck her out as he saw fit and stow her back in his pocket.

  "I won't. I'm holding onto you."

  Daniel sighed defeatedly, making her perch rock. "Then hold on tightly," he murmured.

  Esmae opened her mouth to reply and ended up nearly biting her tongue as the prince set off walking onward again. The darkness was not as stifling here, and a faint breeze came through the fabric as he paced past what smelled like a luncheon at its tail end. Even after days in the human castle, there were still moments where she was struck again by how foreign the sights and smells could be.

  Daniel's rattling steps carried her away from the scent of food at a startling pace that she hadn't fathomed before while riding in his pocket.

  Admittedly, it was nerve-wracking to hold her perch on his shoulder. At least in his pocket, she knew she wouldn't fall. But soon enough, she began to anticipate the rhythm of his gait, and each step didn't startle her so much. It took more work on her part to keep her balance, but she didn't feel quite so undignified as she did in his pocket.

  Letting out a slow breath, she leaned into his neck. It was nowhere near perfect, but for the time being, the mess of uncertainties plaguing her mind felt farther away.

  Chapter

  Nine

  The night air was chilly in the courtyard and the warmth of the brightly burning torches didn't quite reach the bench where Esmae sat, but she didn't so much as shiver. Daniel had draped his jacket over the bench for her, and it had been easy to find a fold in the fabric that she could pull up over her shoulders.

  Daniel had his back to her. She gave a small start at the twang of his bowstring. In the same instant, an arrow sprouted from the straw target across the way. It had hit closer to the center than the previous attempts.

  Esmae grinned. "It seems a few days of slacking weren't enough to put you out of practice," she called.

  Daniel rounded. The eerie gleam of the torches couldn't hide the boyish nature of that smile on his face. "I've been training since I was nine," he said in reply. "I could probably hit these targets with my eyes shut."

  Esmae chewed on her lower lip as she watched him reach back for another arrow. Without his jacket on, the strong contours of his body were far more visible.

  "Do it then," she goaded.

  "What? Close my eyes?"

  She nodded, looking positively impish as she clutched the soft leather closer to her. "I want to see if you can do it."

  Daniel paused and looked her up and down, an intrigued smile playing on his lips. Eventually, he nodded, fingers tensing on the new arrowhead.

  "Fair enough," he declared. The bow strained as he took his stance.

  "Don't peek!" Esmae crowed. "I'll know if you do."

  He was very still, adjusting his aim ever so slightly. Left, then right. Then a little bit up. It was a tedious process. Esmae began to grow restless, but she had scarcely taken her eyes off him when he let the arrow fly.

  It landed with a distant thunk in the general area where an eye socket would have been in the roughly construed figure. It was just a chunk of hay, but Esmae paled a shade all the same and was grateful she never crossed Daniel's path when he had been out on a hunt.

  Catching sight of his own work, Daniel pumped his fist in the air, beaming. "Did you see that?"

  "Try the smaller target!" Esmae cheered, clapping her hands together. It was refreshing to see him so involved in his craft. So distant from the worries of the daytime.

  He had reloaded the bow faster than she could demand it. He shut his eyes, measured carefully, then released his hold. This arrow skimmed the edge of the target, taking a few strands of hay with it as it went soaring past the courtyard's edge. There was a soft plunk as it landed in a ribbon of water running through the castle lawn. They both winced as passing swans honked in alarm.

  Daniel lowered the bow, eyes open wide now. His smile dropped.

  "Shit," he muttered.

  After a beat of silence, Esmae trapped a grin behind both hands, her shoulders shaking as a snort of laughter escaped.

  Daniel turned around, his cheeks pinker than before. Even when his gaze landed on her, she couldn't bring herself to be intimidated enough to wipe the smile from her face. He almost looked perplexed at her giggling. She imagined he was accustomed to being berated for mistakes such as those.

  The bench shook slightly as he approached, fresh amusement glinting in his eyes. "Are you laughing at me?"

  He dropped to a crouch in front of the bench, and Esmae buried her lower face into a fold of his jacket, shaking her head. Something large closed in from her peripherals, and before she could do anything, the back of two fingers playfully nudged against her side, prompting her to squirm away and laugh openly. He raised his eyebrows at her, doing a terrible job of looking offended.

  "Oh, come on, you know that was funny," she insisted, batting at his fingers before pointing at the target. "You may have taken an ear off, at least."

  He scoffed and shook his head. "I should go retrieve that arrow." A fingertip rubbed Esmae's arm up and down, far more tenderly than his playful nudging. "Are you certain you're not cold?"

  "I'm fine. I'll wait here. Go check on the swans."

  Daniel glanced around the empty courtyard hesitantly. "Are you sure?"

  "It won't take but a moment, will it? I'll be right here."

  After another beat of hesitation, the prince stood up and strode away.

  Silence settled over the courtyard, save for the crackling of the torches' fires. Esmae huddled into the Daniel's jacket, left alone with her thoughts. As much as she enjoyed spectating as he practiced, it didn't sit well with her that he had to go out in the dead of night to accommodate her. In daylight, the courtyards were bustling with human activity, and she would have to hide in his closet.

  But coming out at night was his idea, she reminded herself. She wasn't about to argue with the opportunity for fresh air, no matter how chilly.

  Esmae listened closely for the sound of Daniel's returning footsteps. Much sooner than she should have heard anything, a noise came from overhead.

  She stiffened in alarm, gathering the fabric of the jacket closer to duck away. The noise persisted and came closer. Freezing in her frantic attempts to hide, Esmae threw her head back and searched.

  The fluttering, buzzing noise was familiar. But it couldn't be what it sounded like…

  A yelp lodged in her throat as a shadow flew past her on the left. She whipped around, frantically trying to get a good look. Not a moment later, the fairy descended right onto the bench, no more than half a foot away from her. She couldn't breathe, eyes locked onto the newcomer in the torchlight. Esmae lurched to her feet, letting the jacket fold fall.

  The two of them regarded each other silently for only a moment before they rushed at each other and collided into a fierce embrace.

  "Brennan," she whispered, her voice thick and tremulous.

  A familiar smile in his voice was evident, but he sounded weary. He tightened his arms around her. "Hey, Princess."

  "I'm hardly worthy of that title anymore." She turned her head and kissed his cheek, surprised by how scruffy he was.

  She leaned more into him, not realizing how much she had missed embracing someone her own size. Brennan let out a wince and doubled over slightly, a hand slipping down to his stomach.

  Esmae's eyes widened. "I'm sorry. You're… are you hurt?"

  "Don't worry about it," he dismissed. The shadows painted him too well for her to see any sign of a wound beneath his clothing. "What about you? Are you hurt? Did he…" Something vicious glinted in his eyes, and his voice dropped lower. "Did he hurt you?"

  "You mean Daniel?" She shook her head vigorously. "Of course not! Oh, Brennan. You're never going to believe what—"

  "I know." He squeezed both her shoulders reassuringly. "But
everything's going to be alright now."

  Esmae shook her head again. "Everything is alright. Don't you see?"

  Brennan frowned as she gently extracted herself from his grasp to gesture at the massive jacket under their feet, a wide smile on her face. "Daniel's been looking after me. He's so kind, Brennan. Kinder than we could have imagined."

  "Glad as I am to see you in one piece, I don't think keeping you as a pet qualifies as kindness."

  Her smile faltered, the words stinging like acid. Pet. "No, that's not… It's not like that. He cares for me, the same way I do for him."

  "Did he tell you that?" Brennan asked, circling around her to get a look at her back.

  Esmae didn't give him the chance to inspect the bare skin, and spun on her heel to face him. "I know it's the truth. Just listen—"

  "He's a human. Lying is bread and butter to them."

  "Not him."

  Brennan rolled his eyes, glancing nervously towards the place Daniel had wandered. "Look, I know he's handsome, but that doesn't make him a saint, Princess."

  She felt her fists balling. "He's shown me more kindness in a few days than some people do in their entire lives. That means something."

  "Right. It means that you've let him bleed into your mind." He ran a hand through his unruly dark hair, looking more distraught. "I don't believe it. Listen, he'll be back any moment, and we need to be ready. Hardly lets you out of his sight for second, does he? I've been trying to get to you all day."

  Esmae stepped back, recalling the shadow in the stables. "You don't have to hide from him," she said, but her mind was racing with Brennan's words. "What's happening? Tell me."

  "We're going home. Finally. This was our only chance, and I… I couldn't turn it down."

  She shook her head, almost tripping on a fold of the jacket as she backed away further.

  "What are you talking about? Did my father put you up to this?" Esmae looked him up and down, really seeing him this time. He was wearing the same clothes from the night of her contract with the witch, and he was disheveled. Exhausted, hungry. Even the grim determination in his face couldn't hide it. Esmae's voice lowered to a hush. "Did you even return to Evrosea?"

  He looked her straight in the eyes. "No. That night… you disappeared underground, and I demanded to know where she had sent you." Brennan huffed out sharply and looked down.

  "No," she breathed, rushing forward to him. "No, no, what did she do to you?"

  "It doesn't matter." He clenched his jaw. "She gave me a way out. A way out for both of us." Wincing, he laid a hand on his abdomen again.

  "You are hurt. Let me see."

  Before he could push her away, she grabbed the hem of his shirt and lifted it. She almost dropped it the same instant, eyes widening in horror. A black wound marred his bronze skin, dark veins spreading out in all directions.

  "It's getting worse," he murmured, snatching her hand away.

  "She did that?" Esmae felt a vice tightening around her heart. Her fault. Brennan wouldn't have encountered the witch if it wasn't for her. "What is it?"

  "Part of the contract. It… it'll be cured once I fulfill my end of the deal. If not…" He gave her a bleak smile that made her insides twist. "I'm dead by sun-up, and you'll be trapped here with your wonderful prince until he decides he's bored of you, I suppose."

  Esmae squeezed her eyes shut, willing it all to just be another nightmare. She remembered the pain in her abdomen when the witch contacted her in the night. And she remembered a scream right before she woke up. Brennan's scream.

  "Tell me the contract," she said in wavering voice. "What does she want from you?"

  He took her wrist gently. "All that matters," he said slowly, "is that I'll be cured by the end, and we'll be free to go home. I made sure of that." A noise came from across the courtyard, and Brennan's grip tightened. "He's coming back. Please, Esmae. You have to trust me."

  "I… I can't just leave him," she stammered, stumbling away. Brennan yanked her back to him, his patience lapsing.

  "Did you not hear what I said? I'm going to die at first light."

  She covered her mouth with her hand, tears snaking down her cheeks. It was horrible and unfair and she had no one to blame but herself.

  "Esmae?"

  Both fairies flinched as Daniel's voice carried across the courtyard. There was an edge to his voice—he had spotted Brennan. Esmae turned, her heart hammering as she saw the alarm on his face. What was she supposed to tell him?

  She gasped as Brennan released her hand and scooped her up into his arms. "Forgive me, Princess," he murmured.

  "Brennan, wait!" Esmae tried to writhe out of his arms, but he shot into the air so quickly that she had no choice but to throw her arms around his neck to ensure she wouldn't fall. She clung tight, glancing down as the bench and Daniel's jacket dropped far away.

  "Esmae!" Daniel's cautious, confused approach became a sprint in a matter of seconds, though Brennan didn't fly off. He stayed hovering high out of reach.

  Esmae tore her eyes away from the prince. "Brennan, please! I don't know what sort of lies the witch has been feeding you, but Daniel's not what you think. There must be something we can do. We can come up with a plan—something that can save the both of you!"

  "Put her down!" Daniel's shout cut through the air so harshly that even Esmae winced. His bow was still strapped to his back, and he held the arrow he'd retrieved so tightly, Esmae was sure it would snap. "Who are you? What are you doing with her?"

  Any hesitation melted away from Brennan's face. The cocky expression he wore was familiar, but she gained no amusement from it now. "Come and see," he taunted.

  As the prince tried to approach, Brennan flitted back the same amount in mid-air. Daniel stopped short. His glare was venomous unlike Esmae had ever seen.

  "If you hurt her—"

  "You'll what?" Brennan fired back. "I suppose down there, you'd just have to listen to her scream, wouldn't you?"

  Something furious ticked in Daniel's face, blue eyes wild in the firelight. He reached for his bow.

  "Daniel, don't listen to him!" Esmae cried. "Put me down, Brennan, he can help."

  "Yes," Brennan breathed, still inching backward in the air. "I believe he can."

  "No!" She tried to meet his gaze, but he was decidedly focused on Daniel.

  There was no reasoning with Brennan. He was going to believe what made sense to him, the same way Esmae had believed the witch had simply made a mistake in not returning her wings and magic. Until the truth had been staring her in the face. But by the time Brennan saw the truth, it would be too late.

  If he wasn't going to see reason, then she would have to try with Daniel.

  "He's not going to hurt me!" she called down to the prince. "He's my friend, he'd never! It's the witch! She—"

  Before she could finish the thought, Brennan shot backwards and whirled around, flying off toward one of the courtyard exits. Esmae knew immediately that his flight was not at full speed. He was glancing behind. He wanted to be followed.

  And Daniel readily complied, tearing across the courtyard.

  Crying in frustration, Esmae yanked hard on Brennan's collar. "Turn back!"

  "Not an option," he muttered, voice strained. He twisted around, checking on Daniel. Remarkably, he was gaining on them. He still called to her, his booming voice nearly drowned by the wind whistling in her ears. Tears blurred her vision as Brennan sped up, ducking between crooked branches.

  It was when Daniel began to fall behind that she started to squirm, suddenly striving to do something. If she could slow Brennan down, Daniel could get both of them long before they entered the witch's territory. She kicked her legs and twisted in his arms—anything to slow him down.

  "Stop struggling," Brennan hissed.

  "No," she grunted. "I can't let you—"

  She tapered off as a sudden heat flashed through her. She recognized the magic. It flooded her head to toe with a dizzying, tingling sensation that refused to be
ignored. Her head slumped on his shoulder, eyes unfocused.

  "Brennan…" she mumbled, her own voice strange in her ears. He had stunned her.

  "I'm sorry," he said, truly sounding stricken. "I'm so sorry."

  But even those words were already garbled and distant. Her vision swam with trees and flashes of moonlight.

  Chapter

  Ten

  Esmae made a noise low in her throat. Cold wind whipped by, stinging her face nonstop. Her eyes fluttered, and she caught glimpses of stars overhead, mingled with bare, scraggly tree branches. She had to blink hard to allow her eyes to adjust to the glow residing near her.

  Brennan still held her. His skin was awash with amber light, like a sunset. He looked wearier than before, but Esmae couldn't be sure how long she was out. Her senses returned at a snail's pace, and the sickly state of the trees became familiar. They couldn't be much farther from the witch's territory.

  In the distance, thunderous footfalls crashed through the undergrowth. A voice boomed her name desperately.

  "Daniel," Esmae breathed. She twisted weakly, but Brennan didn't need to stun her to subdue the struggles. He wouldn't look at her. "Brennan… you can't. You can't let her have him."

  Just when she was sure he wouldn't answer, he said, "You'd rather me die instead?" There was no accusation in his voice. Only exhaustion.

  "No," she croaked. "Never. I want to keep you both, but I can't do that while you're doing all you can to murder him!"

  "He's not—" Brennan cut off short as an orange light flared in front of them. It vaporized like a gust of wind had blown through it, turning to sparks that drifted into the twisted branches above. Esmae framed her neck to watch their progress, recognizing the glimmer of magic in the air.

  "That's far enough."

  Brennan pulled to a sharp stop in midair, looking for the source of the voice. It wasn't until the witch stepped into the faint light that she was visible at all. Against the trunk of a gnarly oak, she had been nearly indistinguishable.

  Esmae's blood turned to ice as those beady eyes locked onto them. More than ever, she felt the awful absence of her wings. She could do little to resist as Brennan cautiously flew down to the witch's level. In the distance, Daniel was closing in on them.